YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–A round table discussion on the role of Armenia’s public organizations in defending civil rights was held at the initiative of the "Women for Democracy and Justice" public organization Thursday.
The initiative group of that organization mainly consists of wives and sisters of opposition political figures–including Larisa Zadoyan ,wife of Arshak Sadoyan–Boardmember of the National Democratic Union who is wanted by the police–Gohar Vardanian and Knarik Vardanian ,the wife and sister of David Vardanian–a member of the NDU Board–and Armenika Kivirian–sister of "September 25" defendant–Argishti Kivirian.
Noting that the Republic’s public organizations are acting independently–the organization’s leader–Ruzanna Shirinian–stressed the need for cooperation between them–adding that the round table was organized for just such a proposal.
Tigran Janoyan–Ruben Torosian and Avetik Ishkhanian–who are all members of noteworthy human rights groups within Armenia–also referred to dissociation in the public movement in Armenia–and pointed out the passivity of women organizations in defending civil rights–most notably during the "September 25,"Trial of 31," and other political trials.
Human rights activists have also urged women organizations to unite to resolve another vital problems regarding defending the rights of servicemen.
The initiative was upheld by poetess and Karabakh Movement activist Silva Kaputikian–leaders of the "Maternity" Fund–"Association for Stable Human Development,"League of Women-Voters,"Associations of University Women," and others.
Those present at the meeting Thursday were unanimous in their sentimen’s that each public organization have its own field of activities–so the organization in question could raise a problem it considered to be urgent and thereby allow other organizations to then unite to solve the problem at hand.